Unitized reagent strip

ABSTRACT

The embodiments relate to unitized reagent strips for holding and transporting reagents and materials used in automated sample preparation and/or processing for biological and or chemical assays. In some embodiments, a first pipette sheath comprises an aperture pair. The aperture pair includes a first hole and an opposing, second hole. In some embodiments, a first pipette sheath comprises a first pipette tip aperture configured to receive a first pipette tip, and a second pipette sheath comprises a second pipette tip aperture configured to receive a second pipette tip.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/974,624, filed Dec. 18, 2015 and scheduled to issue as U.S. Pat. No.9,480,983 on Nov. 1, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/227,883, filed Mar. 27, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,222,954 on Dec. 29, 2015, which is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2012/058102, filed Sep. 28, 2012, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/541,991, entitled“UNITIZED REAGENT STRIP,” filed Sep. 30, 2011. The disclosures of all ofthe above-referenced prior applications, publications, and patents areconsidered part of the disclosure of this application, and areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The technology described herein generally relates to holders forreagents and disposables, such as may be used for transporting thereagents and for carrying out processing operations with the reagents.e.g., in automated sample preparation/processing devices.

Background

Automation of diagnostic assays and high throughput screening has becomemore prevalent, and several devices have been developed to meet thegrowing need for quick, sensitive, and consistent analysis of multiplesamples. For example, in recent years, integrated devices in whichsample preparation and processing, e.g., for nucleic acid assays, havebeen developed.

Many important assays require the isolation of various components, suchas nucleic acids, proteins, or the like, from clinical and/orenvironmental samples. Isolating nucleic acids, proteins, or otheranalytes of interest from clinical or environmental samples can be timeconsuming and labor intensive. Manual preparation of samples is alsosubject to more variation due to human error and inaccuracies. Severalvariables that affect the consistency and accuracy of samplepreparation, which typically involves several reagents and the need formultiple transfer (e.g., pipetting) operations. Often, required reagentsare of sufficient variety that they typically require different handlingfrom one another and are available from different vendors. As such, thevariation between different vendors and lots of a particular reagent,and different handling of various reagents by one or many individuals,can lead to assay variability. Second, multiple pipetting operationsintroduces the possibility of cross-contamination, e.g., inter-sampleand intra-sample, (e.g., the reagents used during different preparationand/or processing steps of a single sample).

There is a need for methods and devices of carrying out preparation andprocessing of large numbers of samples in parallel, and that minimizeinter-assay variability. Desirably, the methods and devices wouldminimize user manipulation of reagents and/or disposables used in thepreparation and processing procedures, to enable efficient sampleprocessing and minimize both contamination and imprecision, and thatwould maintain flexibility.

The discussion of the background herein is included to explain thecontext of the inventions described herein. This is not to be taken asan admission that any of the material referred to was published, known,or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of anyof the claims.

BACKGROUND

Provided herein are unitized reagent strips, and methods of using thesame. In one aspect, provided is a unitized reagent strip, comprising: astrip with a top side and a bottom side, comprising: a first and asecond pipette sheath comprising a opposing sides, said first and secondpipette sheaths comprising a first and second pipette tip aperture,respectively, each of which comprises a separate opening on the top sideof the strip, and wherein said first and second pipette tip aperturesare configured for insertion of a first and second pipette tip into saidfirst and second pipette sheaths, respectively, and wherein each of saidfirst and second pipette sheaths is configured to substantially surroundthe length of a first and second pipette tip, respectively; a processtube; and a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip,wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of detecting the presenceor absence of a pipette tip within a pipette sheath of a unitizedreagent strip, comprising: a strip with a top side and a bottom side,comprising: a first and a second pipette sheath comprising a opposingsides, said first and second pipette sheaths comprising a first andsecond pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises aseparate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said firstand second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a firstand second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths,respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheathsis configured to substantially surround the length of a first and secondpipette tip, respectively; a process tube; and a receptacle, comprisingan opening through the reagent strip, wherein said receptacle isconfigured to receive a reagent tube, wherein said first pipette sheathcomprises an aperture pair, said aperture pair comprising the firstcored hole and a second cored hole extending through the sidewall of thefirst pipette sheath, wherein the first and second cored holes arelocated on opposing sides of the sidewall of the first pipette sheath,and are positioned at the same distance along the length of the firstpipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture; providing an opticalbeam through the first cored hole of said pipette sheath aperture pair;and detecting whether said optical beam exits unobstructed through saidsecond cored hole of said first pipette sheath aperture pair, whereinthe unobstructed exit of said optical beam through said second coredhole of said first pipette sheath is indicative of the absence of thepipette tip within the pipette sheath, and wherein obstructed exit ofsaid optical beam though said second cored hole indicates the presenceof the pipette tip within said first pipette sheath.

In another aspect, provided herein is a method of determining the lengthof a pipette tip within a pipette sheath of a unitized reagent strip,comprising: providing a unitized reagent strip comprising: a strip witha top side and a bottom side, said strip comprising: a process tube; areceptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, whereinsaid receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a first and asecond pipette sheath, each of said pipette sheaths comprising: a firstand second pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises aseparate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said firstand second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a firstand second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths,respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheathsis configured to substantially surround the length of a first and secondpipette tip, respectively; a top pipette sheath aperture pair and abottom pipette sheath aperture pair within said first pipette sheath,said top and bottom aperture pairs each comprising a first and a secondcored hole extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath,wherein the first and second cored holes of said top and bottom pipettesheath aperture pairs are located on opposite sides of the first pipettesheath, and positioned at the same distance along the length of thefirst pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture, and whereinsaid top pipette sheath aperture pair is located more proximal to thefirst pipette tip aperture than said bottom pipette sheath aperturepair; providing an optical beam through said first cored hole of saidtop pipette sheath aperture pair; providing an optical beam through saidfirst cored hole of said bottom pipette sheath aperture pair; detectingwhether said optical beam is obstructed from passing through said secondcored hole of said top pipette sheath aperture pair; and detectingwhether said optical beam is obstructed from passing through said bottomcored hole of said first pipette sheath aperture pair, whereinobstruction of said optical beam through the second cored hole of thetop aperture pair and passage of said optical beam through said secondcored hole of said bottom pipette sheath aperture pair indicates thatthe pipette tip within said first pipette sheath has a length that doesnot extend down to the bottom pipette sheath aperture pair when insertedinto the first pipette sheath.

In yet another aspect, provided is a method of determining the length ofa pipette tip within a pipette sheath of a unitized reagent strip,comprising: providing a unitized reagent strip comprising: a strip witha top side and a bottom side, said strip comprising: a process tube; areceptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, whereinsaid receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a first and asecond pipette sheath, each pipette sheath comprising: a first andsecond pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises aseparate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said firstand second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a firstand second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths,respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheathsis configured to substantially surround the length of a first and secondpipette tip, respectively; a top pipette sheath aperture pair and abottom pipette sheath aperture pair within said first pipette sheath,said top and bottom aperture pairs each comprising a first and a secondcored hole extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath,wherein the first and second cored holes of said top and bottom pipettesheath aperture pairs are located on opposite sides of the first pipettesheath, and positioned at the same distance along the length of thepipette sheath from the pipette tip aperture, and wherein said toppipette sheath aperture pair is located more proximal to the firstpipette tip aperture than said bottom pipette sheath aperture pair;providing an optical beam through said first cored hole of said toppipette sheath aperture pair; providing an optical beam through saidfirst cored hole of said bottom pipette sheath aperture pair; detectingwhether said optical beam is obstructed from passing through said secondcored hole of said top pipette sheath aperture pair; and detectingwhether said optical beam is obstructed from passing through said bottomcored hole of said first pipette sheath aperture pair, whereinobstruction of said optical beam through the second cored hole of thetop aperture pair and passage of said optical beam through said secondcored hole of said bottom pipette sheath aperture pair indicates thatthe pipette tip within said pipette sheath has a length that does notextend down to the bottom pipette sheath aperture pair when insertedinto the pipette sheath.

In still another aspect, provided herein is a method of determining thelength of a pipette tip within a pipette sheath of a unitized reagentstrip, comprising: providing a unitized reagent strip comprising: astrip with a top side and a bottom side, said strip comprising: aprocess tube; a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagentstrip, wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube;a first and a second pipette sheath, each comprising: a first and secondpipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises a separateopening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said first and secondpipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a first and secondpipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths, respectively,and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheaths is configuredto substantially surround the length of a first and second pipette tip,respectively; a top cored hole and a bottom cored within said firstpipette sheath, said top and bottom cored holes each extending through asidewall of the pipette sheath, wherein said top cored hole is locatedmore proximal to the first pipette tip aperture than said bottom coredhole; determining whether a pipette tip extends within said firstpipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture to the distance ofthe first cored hole; and determining whether a pipette tip extendswithin said first pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture tothe distance of the second cored hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more various embodiments provided herein is described in detailwith reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided forpurposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or exampleembodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitatethe reader's understanding of the invention and shall not be consideredlimiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. Itshould be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawingsare not necessarily made to scale.

Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments ofthe invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanyingdescriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side”views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply orrequire that the invention be implemented or used in a particularspatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a reagent strip as described herein.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the reagent strip as described herein,with reagent tube (160) shown separate from and inserted in the strip.

FIG. 1C is a cutaway view of the process tube in section A-A from FIG.1A.

FIG. 1D is a cutaway view of the reagent tube 140 in section B-B fromFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a cutaway view of the pipette sheath in section C-C from FIG.1A.

FIG. 1F is a top view of the reagent strip of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1G is a bottom view of the reagent strip of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1H is a cutaway view of one embodiment of the reagent strip of FIG.1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a reagent strip as described herein.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the reagent strip of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the reagent strip of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a reagent strip as described herein.

FIGS. 4A-4E show a sequence of pipetting operations in conjunction witha laminated layer.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show embodiments of a laminated layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The embodiments described herein provide reagent holders that areconfigured to hold, transport, and store a plurality of reagents andmaterials used in the preparation and processing of samples, e.g.,clinical and/or environmental samples. The reagent holders providedherein provide several advantages in the preparation and processing ofsamples, such as clinical and/or environmental samples, and are suitablefor use with automated sample processing devices. By way of example,some of the advantages provided by the reagent holders disclosed hereininclude, but are not limited to a design that (1) minimizes ofcross-contamination of reagents and samples; (2) facilitates qualitycontrol of the strips/disposables; (3) simplifies manufacture; and (4)provides versatility useful for different molecular platforms andautomated devices.

The holders herein are also configured for use by an apparatus thatcarries out automated sample preparation, for example, on multiplesamples simultaneously. An exemplary form of such an apparatus isdescribed, e.g., in International Patent Application Publication. No. WO09/054870, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Preparation of a sample for use in assays, such as nucleic acid testing(“NAT”), e.g., by PCR or the like, can include one or more of thefollowing steps: contacting a polynucleotide sample with a nucleic acidtesting NAT reagent mixture, e.g., in the case of PCR or otheramplification, which comprises a polymerase enzyme and a plurality ofnucleotides. In some embodiments, the reagent mixtures can furthercomprise hybridization probes with detectable moieties, wherein theprobes specifically hybridize to target nucleic acids (and/or positivecontrol target nucleic acid sequences).

In some embodiments, the reagent mixture can be in the form of one ormore lyophilized pellets, as stored in a reagent tube on the holder, andthe method can further include reconstituting the reagent pellet withliquid to create a PCR reagent mixture solution. The holder hereinprovides in a self-contained manner, all of the reagents required toprepare a nucleic acid testing-ready sample, or, when delivered to auser in kit form, contains in conjunction with other packages all of therequired reagents. Suitable reagents, and protocols for using the samein DNA and RNA extractions can be found in, respectively, U.S. PatentApplication Publication Nos. US 2010-0009351, and US 2009-0131650, eachof which is herein incorporated by reference.

Several features of the reagent holders described herein are describedwith reference to the drawings provided herein. The exemplary holdersshown in FIGS. 1A-H, 2A-C, and 3, can each be referred to as a “unitizeddisposable strip”, or a “unitized strip”, because they are intended tobe used as a single unit that is configured to hold all of the reagentsand receptacles necessary to perform a sample preparation, and becausethey are laid out in a strip format. It is consistent with thedescription herein, though, that other geometric arrangements of thevarious receptacles are contemplated, so that the description is notlimited to a linear, or strip, arrangement, but can include a circularor grid arrangement.

Turning to FIGS. 1-3, shown are exemplary reagent strips 100. Reagentstrip 100 comprises a strip 110, that has both a top side 310 and abottom side 320, and that houses various components used in samplepreparation and/or processing, including one or more pipette sheaths120, one or more process tubes 130, and which also houses one or moreintegral reagent tubes 140 having reagent tube apertures 330. In someembodiments, the reagent tubes 140 are integral/unitary with the strip110. In some embodiments, the process tubes 130 are integral with thestrip 110. In some embodiments, the process tubes 130 are separate fromthe unitized strip. In some embodiments, the reagent strip comprises oneor more tube receptacles 150. The tube receptacles 150 can beintegral/unitary with the strip 110, and are configured to receive oneor more reagent tubes 160 that are not integral/unitary with the strip110. In some embodiments, reagent tubes 160 can be integral with thestrip, as shown in FIG. 2A.

By way of example, unitized reagent strips as described herein caninclude, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more pipettesheaths, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more process tubes, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more receptacles, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, or more integral reagent tubes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more wastecontainers, or the like, organized in any configuration on the strip.

In preferred embodiments, the reagent strip comprises one or morepipette sheaths 120 that are substantially separated from adjacentpipette sheaths and/or adjacent reagent tubes 140, process tubes 130, ortube receptacles 150. Preferably, the pipette sheaths 120 are integralwith the strip 110, and thus do not require manual assembly onto thestrip 110. Individual pipette tips can be inserted into individualpipette sheaths 120, by virtue of individual pipette tip apertures 170that are present in the strip 110. The pipette sheaths 120 substantiallysurround the sides and bottoms of individual pipette tips. The term“substantially surrounding”, when used in reference to the pipettesheaths, means that the sheath surrounds at least the main body of thepipette tip. That is, the top of the pipette tip may comprise a lip, orthe like, at the top portion of the pipette tip (through which thepipettor is inserted), that extends past (and possibly rests on top of),the top portion of the strip 110. In some embodiments, the pipettesheath surrounds, e.g., 70%, 80%, 85%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or more, of thelength of a pipette tip. By substantially surrounding individual pipettetips, the pipette sheaths prevent contact between each pipette tip andother pipette tips, reagent tubes, process tubes, waste containers, orthe like, present in the strip. Specifically, each pipette sheath isconfigured to have material surrounding, or forming a barrier or wall290 that isolates the body of a pipette tip inserted therein, from otherreagents/holders or disposables (e.g., other pipette tips) within theunitized strip. Thus, the individual pipette sheaths prevent anycross-contamination between reagents and/or samples that are manipulatedduring preparation and/or processing by pipetting. For example, thepipette sheaths 120 prevent contamination between adjacent pipette tipson the same strip, as well as between pipette tips housed in reagentstrips held in adjacent position, e.g., within an automated samplepreparation/processing device.

In some embodiments, the pipette sheaths contain one or more sheathapertures, or cored holes 180. In some embodiments, the cored holes 180are present as pairs of sheath apertures. whereas in other embodiments,the cored holes are not part of an aperture pair. In some embodiments,the pipette sheaths comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, ten, or more, unpaired cored holes 180. In someembodiments, the pipette sheaths comprise a plurality of aperture pairs,wherein each pipette sheath aperture pair comprises two cored holes 180.For example, a pipette sheath can include e.g., one pair, two pairs,three pairs, four pairs, five pairs, six pairs, seven pairs, eightpairs, nine pairs, ten pairs, or more, of sheath aperture pairs. Pipettesheath aperture pairs comprise a first cored hole 180 a and a secondcored hole 180 b, which are present on opposing sides of, andequidistant from the top of, the pipette sheath 120, as shown e.g., inFIG. 1D. In some embodiments, unpaired cored holes 180 can be present onopposing sides of, and at various distances from the top of, the pipettesheath 120.

The cored holes 180, whether present unpaired, or as an aperturepair(s), can advantageously be used to determine the presence or absenceof a pipette tip within a pipette sheath 120, either manually (by visualinspection), or automatically (e.g., by an optical sensor). The coredholes 180 thereby provide an additional quality control checkpoint priorto use of the unitized reagent strip. For example, in the context ofautomated detection of pipette tips, when cored holes 180 are present asa pipette sheath aperture pair, one can pass light through the firstcored hole of the pair. When the pipette sheath 120 is not housing apipette tip, light can pass through the first and second cored holes ofthe aperture pair aligned on opposing sides of the sheath. When apipette tip is present within the sheath, the pipette tip blocks orobstructs visible pathway between the first and second cored holes ofeach aperture pair. In this manner, the sheath aperture pairs 180 can bereadily used to determine whether or not a pipette tip is present ineach sheath 120. When cored holes 180 are present, but not part of apipette sheath aperture pair, one can determine the presence or absenceof a pipette tip within the sheath by calculating, e.g., the reflectionor obstruction of light passed through the unpaired cored hole, as thereflection or obstruction will differ depending upon whether a pipettetip is present within the pipette sheath or is absent. For example, insome embodiments, detection of light reflection may be determined usingart recognized means and devices such as retro-reflective detectors. Insome embodiments, the presence or absence of a pitpette tip in a sheathis determined by measuring the obstruction of light, for example byusing art-recognized means and devices such as through-beam sensors.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments more than one pipette sheathaperture pair 180 is present within the sheath, as shown e.g., in FIGS.1B and 1E. When multiple cored holes 180 are present within the pipettesheath (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more), each cored hole canbe present at a different position or distance along the length ofpipette sheath relative to the top side of the strip 110, that definesthe pipette tip aperture. By the same token, multiple sheath aperturepairs 180 can be present along the length of a single pipette sheath,wherein each sheath aperture pair 180 can be located at a differentposition or distance along the length of the pipette sheath 120, withrespect to the top side of the strip 110, which defines the pipette tipaperture. The arrangement of a plurality of cored holes 180 along thelength of the pipette sheath (whether unpaired or as part of a pipettesheath aperture pair) offers the ability to not only determine whetheror not a pipette tip is present within a sheath, but further providesthe capability of determining the length (size) of the pipette tipinserted within the sheath. For example, as when a shorter pipette tipis present in sheath 120, the tip may alter the reflection or theobstruction of light directed through cored hole 180 a, but may be tooshort to alter the reflection or obstruction of light directed throughcored hole 180 d. By the same token, when multiple sheath aperture pairsare present, a tip present in the pipette sheath may obstruct thepassage of light directed through cored hole 180 a as it exits coredhole 180 b, but may be too short to obstruct light passing throughsheath aperture pair 180 c, 180 d, or 180 e, 180 f. The pipette sheathaperture pairs 180 thus offer advantages for quality control of thereagent strips, by enabling the rapid determination of the presence orabsence of tips, which can be performed manually (e.g., visibleinspection by an individual), or which can be readily automated duringthe manufacturing process or assembly process for the reagent strips.For example, optical sensors can be used to transmit and detect lightentering or exiting the first or second cored holes of aperture pairs180, in order to detect the presence or absence (and, e.g., length) ofpipette tips within each individual sheath 120.

In addition to providing advantages for quality control, the cored holes180 can facilitate manufacture of the reagent strips 100. Specifically,manufacture of long, relatively narrow sheaths, such as pipette sheaths120 by injection molding poses significant challenges. The pipettesheaths typically are a long, narrow shape with low draft angle vessels.Long core pins that are conventionally used in injection molding ofstructures such as the pipette tip sheaths as described herein, wouldtend to shift under the high pressure injection of e.g., thermoplasticmaterial or thermosetting material from which the reagent strips aremade. The presence of the cored holes 180, whether present unpaired oras part of the sheath aperture pairs, enables the use of stabilizingpins, created with mold action, to be used to stabilize the long corepins that are used for the molding of the pipette sheaths 120.Accordingly, cored holes 180 make feasible the manufacture of adjoinedpipette sheaths by injection molding, thereby simplifying and reducingthe cost of manufacture.

In some embodiments, the reagent strip comprises pipette sheaths havingthe same length. In some embodiments, the reagent strip can comprisepipette sheaths having different lengths. For example, as shown in FIG.2A, the reagent strip 100 can comprise one or more pipette sheaths 180having a first length 230, and one or more pipette sheaths having asecond length 240, as shown, for example in FIG. 2A. Thus, pipettesheaths having the first, longer length 230 can house longer pipettetips than the pipette sheaths having the second, shorter length 240. Asdiscussed above, in some embodiments, the pipette sheaths can compriseone or more unpaired cored holes 180, or cored holes present as pipettesheath aperture pairs. In some embodiments, however, the pipette sheathsdo not comprise any cored holes 180. In some embodiments, for example, areagent strip is provided, wherein the reagent strip comprises one ormore pipette sheaths having a first, longer length and having pipettesheath aperture pairs along the longer length of the sheath; and one ormore pipette sheaths having a second, shorter, length and no cored holesor pipette sheath aperture pairs. In some embodiments, however, both thelonger and the shorter pipette sheaths can comprise at least oneunpaired cored hole 180, or at least one pipette sheath aperture pair.In some embodiments, the longer pipette sheath can comprise moreunpaired cored holes 180 or pipette sheath aperture pairs than theshorter pipette sheath. By way of example, a shorter pipette sheath cancontain one or two cored holes 180, or one or two pipette sheathaperture pairs, and a longer pipette sheath can contain three or fourunpaired cored holes 180, or three or four pipette sheath aperturepairs.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pipette sheaths 120 are closed at their base,which provides room to collect any liquids or drippings from the pipettetips following use. The individual pipette sheaths are substantiallyseparated, e.g., by a wall.

As discussed above, the reagent strips disclosed herein preferablycomprise one or more receptacles 150. Receptacles 150 of the reagentstrip can be configured to accept reagent tubes that contain,respectively, sufficient quantities of one or more reagents used toprepare and/or process the biological and/or environmental samples. Insome embodiments, the reagents may be in solid form, such as inlyophilized form, for carrying out sample preparation and/or processing,e.g., isolation of nucleic acids from a sample to create a samplesuitable for nucleic acid testing (“NAT”) that is associated with theholder. In some embodiments, the reagents can be in liquid form.

The one or more receptacles 150 can be the same size and shape, or maybe of different sizes and shapes from one another. Receptacles 150 areshown as having open bottoms, but are not limited to such topologies,and may be closed other than the inlet 220 in the upper side of thestrip 110. Preferably the receptacles 150 are configured to acceptcommonly used containers, vessels or tubes in the field of laboratoryanalysis, or containers suitably configured for use with the holderherein. Reagent tubes 160 that are not integrated with strip 110 canthus be stored separately from the reagent strips, and can be snapped injust prior to use. This is advantageous as different reagents (e.g.,nucleic acid extraction versus PCR reagents) may require differentstorage conditions. For example, lyophilized reagents can be moisturesensitive, and require different storage conditions that, e.g., a lysisbuffer. The snap-in design of reagent tubes also affords versatility astubes containing different reagents can be loaded into reagent strip100, depending upon the different type of preparation/processing thatthe user wishes to perform on the sample

The strips disclosed herein can include a leading edge 190. Leading edge190 can be configured to facilitate handling by the user. Leading edge190 can also be configured to facilitate to proper insertion and/orposition of the reagent strip 100, in e.g., an automated preparation andprocessing device. The leading edge 190 can comprise certain identifyingfeatures, such as a color, barcode, RFID, or the like to facilitateidentification and/or tracking of individual reagent strips 100.

In some embodiments, reagent strip 100 comprises a registration membersuch as a mechanical key 250. Typically such a key is part of the strip110, e.g., part of the leading edge 190 or the like. A mechanical keyensures that the holder is accepted by a complementary member in, forexample, a supporting rack or a receiving bay of an apparatus thatcontrols pipetting operations on reagents in the holder. A mechanicalkey 250 is normally a particular-shaped cut-out that matches acorresponding cutout or protrusion in a receiving apparatus. Thus,reagent strip 100 can comprise a mechanical key 250 that comprises apair of rectangular-shaped cut-outs on one end of the strip 110. Thisfeature as shown additionally provides for a tab by which a user maygain a suitable purchase when inserting and removing the holder into arack or another apparatus. The skilled artisan will appreciate that thelocation of the mechanical key 250 feature can be different than thatshown in the figures provided herein. For example, the mechanical key250 can be located at the other end of strip 110 than leading edge 190.In some embodiments, key 250 is an angled cutout that eases insertion ofthe holder into a rack, as well as ensures a good registration thereinwhen abutting a complementary angled cut out in a recessed areaconfigured to receive the holder. Other variations of a mechanical keyare, of course, consistent with the description herein: for example,curved cutouts, or various combinations of notches or protrusions allwould facilitate secure registration of the holder.

In some embodiments, the reagent strip can comprise an identifieraffixed to the strip 100. The identifier may be a label, such as awritable label, a bar-code, a 2-dimensional bar-code, or an RFID tag.The identifier can be, e.g., for the purpose of quickly revealing whatcombination of reagents is present in the holder and, thus, for whattype of sample preparation protocol it is intended. The identifier mayalso indicate the batch from which the holder was made, for qualitycontrol or record-keeping purposes. The identifier may also permit auser to match a particular holder with a particular sample.

As discussed above, reagent tubes 140, 160, such as containing thelyophilized reagents, can be sealed across their tops by a metal foil,such as an aluminum foil, with no plastic lining layer, as furtherdescribed herein. Reagent tubes 160 containing reagents can be providedas singular tubes, or multiple tubes that comprise completely separatedvessels, wherein the vessels are adjoined together, e.g., via aconnector. For example, in some embodiments, more than one reagent tube160 (e.g., two three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ormore), can be provided together, wherein the reagent tubes are togethersnapped into place in adjacent receptacles 150. By way of example, aplurality of reagent tubes 160 containing reagents specific for aparticular NAT assay (e.g., containing specific, lyophilizedamplification primers and/or probes and/or control nucleic acids) can beadjoined together, and readily snapped into a strip 110 configured toreceive the plurality of separate reagent tubes adjoined together. Inother embodiments, the receptacles are configured such that reagenttubes 160 can be inserted individually into each receptacle 150.

Integral reagent tubes 140, and/or snap-in reagent tubes 160 containingdifferent reagents may be of different colors, or color-coded for easyidentification by the user. For example, color-coding integral reagenttubes 140 may be useful to distinguish different types of unitizedreagent strips, e.g., that can be used in different sample preparations.In the case of the snap-in reagent tubes 160, color coding the tubes maybe used to distinguish different reagents from each other. By way ofexample, in the case of unitized reagent strips used for DNA isolationand generating a PCR-ready sample, different color coded reagent tubes160 can be used to distinguish tubes used in connection with differentNATs, e.g., that contain different primer pairs, probes, and the like.For example they may be made of different color material, such as tintedplastic, or may have some kind of identifying tag on them, such as acolor stripe or dot. They may also have a label printed on the side,and/or may have an identifier such as a barcode on the sealing layer onthe top. In some embodiments, the process 130 and/or reagent tubes 140,160 can be translucent.

The reagent strips 100 are shown configured with a waste chamber 200,having a waste inlet aperture 210 in the upper side of the strip 110.Waste chamber 200 is optional and, in embodiments where it is present,is configured to receive spent liquid reagents. In other embodiments,where it is not present, spent liquid reagents can be transferred to anddisposed of at a location outside of the holder, such as, for example, asample tube that contained the original sample whose contents are beinganalyzed. Waste chamber 200 is shown as part of an assembly comprisingadditionally two or more reagent tubes 140. It would be understood thatsuch an arrangement is done for convenience, e.g., of manufacture; otherlocations of the waste chamber 200 are possible, as are embodiments inwhich the waste chamber 200 is adjacent a reagent tube 140, but notconnected to it other than via the strip 110.

The holder is typically such that the strip 110, pipette sheath(s) 120,process tube 130, the two or more reagent tubes 140, and the wastechamber (if present) are made from a single piece, made from a materialsuch as polypropylene. As discussed elsewhere above, the design of theembodiments disclosed herein advantageously facilitate manufacture of aunitized reagent strip from, e.g, an injection mold.

FIGS. 1G and 2C show the underside 320 of reagent strip 100. As shown inFIG. 2C, the underside 320 can comprise struts 300, which provide forstability and flexibility.

FIG. 1H shows a cut-away view of a pipette tip 360 contained in one ofthe pipette sheaths 120.

While the figures provided herein show a strip that is configured sothat the one or more pipette sheaths, the one or more receptacles, andthe respective apertures of the process tube, and the reagent tubes, areall arranged linearly with respect to one another (i.e., their midpointslie on the same axis) the skilled artisan will appreciate that theholders herein are not limited to particular configurations ofreceptacles, waste chambers, process tubes, pipette sheaths, and reagenttubes. For example, some embodiments provide a shorter reagent stripe.g., with staggered apertures, wherein some reagent, process tube, orpipette tip apertures occupy ‘off-axis’ positions. The variousreceptacles, etc., also do not need to occupy the same positions withrespect to one another as is shown in FIGS. 1-3, wherein the processtube is disposed approximately near the middle of the holder, liquidreagents are stored in receptacles mounted on one side of the processtube, and receptacles holding solid reagents are mounted on the otherside of the process tube. Thus, in FIGS. 1-3, the process tube is on oneend of the strip, and the pipette sheath(s) are at the other end,adjacent to, in an interior position, a waste chamber and two or morereagent tubes. Still other dispositions are possible, such as mountingthe process tube on one end of the holder, mounting the process tubeadjacent the pipette tips and pipette tip sheath (as further describedherein), and mounting the waste tube adjacent the process tube. It wouldbe understood that alternative configurations of the various parts ofthe reagent strip give rise only to variations of form and can beaccommodated within other variations of the apparatus as described,including but not limited to alternative instruction sets for automatedpreparation and processing of the samples.

Process tube 130 can also be a snap-in tube, rather than being part ofan integrated piece. Process tube 130 can be used for various mixing andreacting processes that occur during sample preparation. For example,cell lysis can occur in process tube 130, as can extraction of nucleicacids. Process tube 130 is then advantageously positioned in a locationthat minimizes, overall, pipette head moving operations involved withtransferring liquids to process tube 130.

Reagent tubes 140 are typically configured to hold various liquidreagents. For example, in some embodiments, the reagent strips cancomprise, three reagent tubes, wherein the individual reagent tubes aresupplied with a sample wash buffer, a nucleic acid release buffer, andnucleic acid neutralization buffer, e.g., to purify nucleic acids forNAT assays.

Reagent tubes 140 that hold liquids or liquid reagents can be sealedwith a laminate structure 400. The laminate structure can comprise aheat seal layer, a plastic layer such as a layer of polypropylene, and alayer of metal such as aluminum foil, wherein the heat seal layer isadjacent the one or more reagent tubes 140. The additional plastic filmthat is used in a laminate for receptacles that contain liquid reagentsis typically to prevent liquid from contacting the aluminum.

Exemplary embodiments of a laminate structure 400, differing in theirlayer structures, are described, e.g., in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009/0129978, herein incorporated by reference. In someembodiments, the heat seal layer of the laminate structure 400 can bemade, e.g., from a lacquer or other polymer with a low melting point,and located at the top of the reagent strip 100 when so applied, asshown in FIG. 5A. The laminate 400 structure can include a plastic layer420 on top of the heat seal layer 410 made of polypropylene, having athickness in the range 10-50 microns. The laminate structure 400 mayalso include a metal layer on top of the plastic layer, comprising alayer of aluminum foil 440 bonded to the plastic layer 420 with a layerof adhesive 430. Alternatively, the metal layer may be a layer of metalthat is evaporated or sputtered into place directly on to the plasticlayer, as shown in FIG. 5B.

The laminates deployed herein make longer term storage easier becausethe holder includes the presence of sealed lyophilized reagents as wellas liquids sealed in close proximity, which is normally hard to achieve.

In one embodiment, the tops of the reagent tubes have beveled edges sothat when an aluminum foil is heat bonded to the top, the plastic meltdoes not extend beyond the rim of the tube. This is advantageousbecause, if the plastic melt reduces the inner diameter of the tube, itwill cause interference with the pipette tip during operation. In otherembodiments, a raised flat portion 260 facilitates application andremoval of laminate 400. Raised surface 260, on the upper side of theconnecting member, and surrounding the inlet apertures to the reagenttubes and, optionally, the waste chamber, is an optional feature of theholder.

The manner in which liquid is pipetted out is such that a pipette tippiercing through the foil rips through without creating a seal aroundthe pipette tip. Such a seal around the tip during pipetting would bedisadvantageous because a certain amount of air flow is desirable forthe pipetting operation. In this instance, a seal is not created becausethe laminate structure 400 causes the pierced foil to stay in theposition initially adopted when it is pierced. FIGS. 4A-4E illustratethe pipetting of a reagent out from a reagent tube sealed with alaminate as further described herein. At FIG. 4A, the pipette tip ispositioned approximately centrally above the reagent tube 140 thatcontains reagent 270. At FIG. 4B, the pipette tip is lowered, usuallycontrollably lowered, into the reagent tube, and in so doing pierces thefoil 280. The exploded view of this area shows the edge of the piercedlaminate to be in contact with the pipette tip at the widest portion atwhich it penetrates the reagent tube. At FIG. 4C, the pipette tip iswithdrawn slightly, maintaining the tip within the bulk of the reagent270. The exploded view shows that the pierced foil has retained theconfiguration that it adopted when it was pierced and the pipette tipdescended to its deepest position within the reagent tube. At FIG. 4D,the pipette tip sucks up reagent 270, possibly altering its height. AtFIG. 4E, the pipette tip is removed entirely from the reagent tube.

The materials of the various tubes and chambers may be configured tohave at least an interior surface smoothness and surface coating toreduce binding of nucleic acids and other macromolecules thereto.Binding of nucleic acids is unwanted because of the reduced sensitivitythat is likely to result in subsequent detection and analysis of thenucleic acids that is not trapped on the surface of the holder. Theprocess tube also may have a low binding surface, and allows magneticbeads to slide up and down the inside wall easily without sticking toit. Moreover, it has a hydrophobic surface coating enabling low stictionof fluid and hence low binding of nucleic acids and other molecules. Thereagent strips disclosed herein can be manufactured from many differentpolymers, including all thermoplastics, some thermosets, and elastomers.Preferably, the material is suitable for injection molding. Non limitingexamples of polymers useful in the manufacture of the strips disclosedherein include, e.g., epoxy and phenolic polymers, nylon, polyethylene,and polystyrene polymers, and the like. Preferably the reagent stripsare made from a plastic such as polypropylene, and are of dimensionsthat are rigid, so that the reagent strips will not significantly sag orflex under its own weight and will not easily deform during routinehandling and transport, and thus will not permit reagents to leak outfrom it.

It should also be considered consistent with the description herein thata holder additionally can be configured to accept a sample, such as in asample tube. Thus, in embodiments described elsewhere herein, a rackaccepts a number of sample tubes and a number of corresponding holdersin such a manner that the sample tubes and holders can be separately andindependently loaded from one another. Nevertheless, in otherembodiments, a holder can be configured to also accept a sample, forexample in a sample tube. And thus, a complementary rack is configuredto accept a number of holders, wherein each holder has a sample as wellas reagents and other items. In such an embodiment, the holder isconfigured so that the sample is accessible to a sample identificationverifier.

Kits

The reagent strips described herein may be provided as a kit. Forexample, individual reagent strips can be packaged together orindividually in a sealed pouch, to reduce the chance of air and moisturecoming into contact with the reagents in the holder. Such a sealed pouchmay contain one or more of the holders described herein, such as 2, 4,6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, or 24 holders.

The holder may also be provided as part of a kit for carrying out samplepreparation, wherein the kit comprises a first pouch containing one ormore of the holders described herein, each of the holders configuredwith liquid reagents for, e.g., lysis, wash, and release, and a secondpouch, having an inert atmosphere inside, and one or more reagent tubescontaining lyophilized PCR reagents. Such a kit may also be configuredto provide for analysis of multiple samples, and contain sufficient PCRreagents (or other amplification reagents, such as for RT-PCR,transcription mediated amplification, strand displacement amplification,NASBA, helicase dependent amplification, and other familiar to one ofordinary skill in the art, and others described herein) to process suchsamples, and a number of individual holders such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12,16, 20, or 24 holders.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for holding pipette tips comprising: astrip with a top side and a bottom side; a first pipette sheath coupledto the strip; a second pipette sheath coupled to the strip; a firstpipette tip aperture located on the top side of the strip and configuredfor insertion of a first pipette tip into the first pipette sheath; anda second pipette tip aperture located on the top side of the strip andconfigured for insertion of a second pipette tip into the second pipettesheath, wherein the first pipette sheath comprises an aperture pair, theaperture pair comprising a first hole and an opposing, second hole,wherein the first hole and the opposing, second hole are aligned alongan axis, and wherein the first hole and the opposing, second hole arepositioned along the length of the first pipette sheath.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, further comprising a process tube coupled to the strip. 3.The device of claim 1, further comprising a reagent tube coupled to thestrip.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pipette sheathcomprises a second aperture pair, the second aperture pair comprising athird hole and an opposing, fourth hole.
 5. The device of claim 4,wherein the aperture pair is located more proximal to the strip, alongthe length of the first pipette sheath, than the second aperture pair.6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pipette sheath comprises athird hole, wherein the third hole is a different distance along thelength of the first pipette sheath than the aperture pair.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the first pipette sheath and the second pipettesheath have different lengths measured from the first pipette tipaperture and the second pipette tip aperture, respectively.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the first pipette sheath and the secondpipette sheath are integral with the strip.
 9. A pipette tip holdercomprising: a strip; a first pipette sheath, the first pipette sheathcomprising a first pipette tip aperture configured to receive a firstpipette tip, the first pipette sheath comprising a first longitudinalaxis; and a second pipette sheath, the second pipette sheath comprisinga second pipette tip aperture configured to receive a second pipettetip, the second pipette sheath comprising a second longitudinal axis,wherein each pipette sheath is configured to surround at least a portionof the length of one pipette tip, wherein the first longitudinal axisand second longitudinal axis are spaced apart along a longitudinal axisof the strip, and wherein the first pipette sheath comprises a firsthole, the first hole extending through a sidewall of the first pipettesheath.
 10. The pipette tip holder of claim 9, wherein the first ole hasa central axis traverse to the first longitudinal axis.
 11. The pipettetip holder of claim 9, further comprising a process tube separate andspaced apart from the first pipette sheath and the second pipette sheathalong the strip.
 12. The pipette tip holder of claim 9, furthercomprising a receptacle separate and spaced apart from the first pipettesheath and the second pipette sheath along the strip, wherein thereceptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube.
 13. The pipette tipholder of claim 9, wherein the first pipette sheath comprises anaperture pair, the aperture pair comprising the first hole and a secondhole extending through an opposing sidewall of the first pipette sheath.14. The pipette tip holder of claim 13, wherein the first hole and thesecond hole are coaxial.
 15. The pipette tip holder of claim 13, whereinthe first hole and the second hole are positioned along the length ofthe first pipette sheath at the same distance from the strip.
 16. Thepipette tip holder of claim 9, wherein the first pipette sheath and thesecond pipette sheath have different lengths measured from the firstpipette tip aperture and the second pipette tip aperture, respectively.17. A method comprising: providing a device comprising a strip with atop side and a bottom side, a first pipette sheath configured to hold afirst pipette tip, wherein the first pipette tip is configured to beinserted into the first pipette sheath via a first pipette tip aperturelocated in the strip, wherein the first pipette sheath comprises a firsthole extending through a wall of the first pipette sheath, and a secondpipette sheath configured to hold a second pipette tip, wherein thesecond pipette tip is configured to be inserted into the second pipettesheath via a second pipette tip aperture located in the strip; anddetermining whether the first pipette tip is present within the firstpipette sheath by providing an optical beam that enters the firstpipette sheath through the first hole.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the determining step comprises determining the reflection orobstruction of the optical beam as indicative of the presence or absenceof the first pipette tip within the first pipette sheath.
 19. The methodof claim 17, further comprising determining whether the first pipettetip extends within the first pipette sheath from the strip to thedistance of the first hole.
 20. The pipette tip holder of claim 9,wherein the first and second pipette tip apertures are spaced apartalong the longitudinal axis of the strip.